Executive Producer, Kathy DiFiore's educational docu-drama, "Surviving The Streets" provides a realistic view of teenage urban life and choices that kids have to make when faced with gang violence. DiFiore has worked with inner city youth and has received Humanitarian awards from the NJ State Assembly, the Martin Luther King Jr. 2005 Award from the United Methodist Church of... Full story »

Beyond the glitz and glamour of music superstardom and hit records are people working behind the scenes – producers, writers, business managers and engineers who make it happen. According to Cobblestone Records C.E.O. Jeff Billingsley, knowing that side of the industry well can keep money coming in when record sales are low. Cobblestone offers music lessons, DJ training, theory and... Full story »

A resident of East Orange for 20 years and recent transplant in Newark, Alverson "Alvie" Layne (Alvietron) is an aspiring artist with a soulful croon and a flair for hip-hop lyricism. Collaborating with producer Shawn Glover (S. Glover) to form Cyclones, their music blends smooth R&B vocals, spoken word and house grooves. It's easy to sink into the sound... Full story »

Newark is home to dozens of rockers, classical musicians, jazz players, spoken word artists and R&B singers. But perhaps more ubiquitous is the culture of underground rappers who call Brick City home. With so many rappers competing to be the next big thing in hip-hop, the pressure to produce a hit song is great, thus compelling many rappers and... Full story »

Some artists set trends. Others reject them. But a chosen few take inspiration from popular trends and create something new that sets the world on its ears. J'sad Tahir Jones hopes to do the later. Joining the Auto-Tune bandwagon, Jones a.k.a. Harmony is an 18-year-old R&B singer from Irvington who says his goal is to "take R&B where it's... Full story »

From a small sub-culture to international phenomena, hip-hop has changed the way we dress, the way we talk, the way we create music and the way in which we evaluate the merits of what we hear on the radio. Hip-hop is not only the pulse of youth culture; in many ways hip-hop has become a measuring stick of authenticity... Full story »

SSome of hip-hop's most admired artists, Naughty by Nature, Redman of the infamous Def Squad, and of course, Lauryn Hill, all got there start right here in Essex County. And yet, Newark is still underrated as a founding city in hip-hop history. While out-of-town rappers like T-Pain, TI, Young Jeezy, Lil' Wayne and Kanye West can be heard any... Full story »

I've always known that I wanted to sing. I remember when I was younger, my sister and I used to sing together at church in Philadelphia. They used to call us The McEachern Sisters. We performed cutesy Christian songs, like "I Am a Promise" and "Father Abraham." I remember practicing for hours to perfect every song. But by the... Full story »

If someone asked me what my aspirations are as an artist, I might say that I want to write a song that - in just a few words - expresses the deepest emotions I've ever felt, and connects me with others who've ever felt the same way. On a loftier day I might add that I'd like to perform... Full story »

Some sing, some dance, some act, and then, there are those who do it all. Let's face it; having just one talent is old hat. Today, the most popular music artists are also the most recognizable people in the world. And that's because we don't just hear them on the radio, we see their faces everywhere from the silver... Full story »

There are a lot of reasons to get into the music business. Some do it for the money, some for the fame. But there are others who just do it because it's second nature. It's sort of a cultural impetus. Though the goal for many artists is to reach as many people as possible with their work, the less... Full story »

For many music artists, there comes a time when it's necessary to put ego aside, step out of the spotlight and assume a different role. It can happen at any time. Maybe you wrote a song, but it sounds better when someone else sings it. Maybe the public isn't ready for your style of music. Maybe they were, but... Full story »

I love hip-hop, but growing up in a Christian household in South Jersey, it was gospel or bust. Kirk Franklin was a big favorite of my mother's, as well as Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams. My dad dug gospel too, but want he was really big on was jazz. He could sneak in a group like The Staple Singers, but... Full story »

If there's one thing I've always wanted to do, it's go on tour. Just hit the road, unencumbered, sights set on world domination. It's always seemed like the right thing for me. At 24, a part of me still feels like I could just pack up and leave. Take my EP and my chances, move to California and see what... Full story »

In the underground mixtape culture, flow is everything -- paired with the latest hot track, of course. Clever, original rhymes recorded over popular beats are essential to creating a classic mixtape. It's a simple formula that rap artists use to promote their music while minimizing the cost of production. Simple, genius and despite the Recording Industry of America (RIA)... Full story »

When I think about the evolution of file sharing and digital distribution over the past decade, it's like the old chicken and the egg saying. It's difficult to say which came first. The effects of this transition from analog to digital are revealing. Major labels can't get with the mix, and while they've smartly agreed to abandon the DRM... Full story »

RACHEL JONES of Boonton Township Occupation Assistant professor, Rutgers College of Nursing in Newark. Background Jones grew up during the height of the civil rights movement and said it was a profound influence. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, a master's degree in nursing from Pace University in New... Full story »